LDS Beliefs

References

* JST= Joseph Smith Translation

** From the Book of Mormon

++ LDS Scripture given through Joseph Smith and other prophets

## (In the Pearl of Great Price)

Organization of the Church

We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth. (Article of Faith #6)

We do not have a paid clergy. Our Bishops and Priests and all other leadership are lay clergy.

Christ’s Church

Christ is the head of the Church. He is the head of the body, the Church.

(Eph. 1: 22) And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church.

(Eph. 4: 15) But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
(Col. 1: 18) And he is the ahead of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

When Christ lived on the earth He established His Church. He chose twelve Apostles to lead it. After His Resurrection, He commanded them to go to all the world, teaching people His gospel and baptizing them.

(Matthew 28:19–20)
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Christ gave the Apostles the authority to act in His name and do the works they had seen Him do. Others received authority from the Apostles. They were also able to teach, baptize, and perform other ordinances in Christ’s name.

The Twelve Apostles traveled extensively preaching the gospel, establishing congregations, and performing many wonderful works. They were the foundation of Christ’s Church. After His death, the Savior led His Church through the Apostles by continuing revelation.

(Acts 1:2) Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen.

Organization of Christ’s Church

When Jesus Christ lived on the earth, He organized His Church. It was “built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone”.

(Eph. 2: 20) And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

In addition to the Twelve Apostles, Christ appointed other leaders to assist the Apostles in the work of His Church. These included:

Seventies

Evangelists (patriarchs)

Pastors (presiding leaders)

Elders

Bishops

Priests

Teachers

Deacons

(Ephesians 4:11, 12) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.

These officers were given the authority (or priesthood) necessary to do the work of Christ’s Church. They did missionary work, performed ordinances such as baptism, presided over congregations, instructed and inspired Church members, and helped unify them in their faith. As long as those who had the priesthood were alive, the Church grew and prospered.

Early Church members referred to themselves as Saints.

(Romans 15: 25) But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints.

(1 Corinthians 1: 2) Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

Apostasy

A general falling away from the truth occurred after the death of Christ’s Apostles. This is called the Apostasy.

When Jesus Christ lived on the earth, He established His Church. After His Ascension into heaven, His Apostles carried on His work under His direction, through revelation and with His priesthood authority.

After the Apostles and many righteous Church members were killed and other members departed from the truth, the Lord took the priesthood authority and His Church from the earth. Without God’s priesthood authority, the Church no longer functioned as Christ had established it. The ordinances were changed and many plain and simple truths were lost. While many good people and some truth remained, the original Church was lost.

The Apostles prophesied of the falling away or Apostasy. One example is Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians.

(2 Thessalonians 2:1–3)

1 NOW we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,

2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.

3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

(2 Timothy3:1)

1 THIS know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

4 Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,

7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

The Prophet Amos foretold of this apostasy.

(Amos 8:11) Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD.

Joseph Smith’s words (from his first Vision)--

## (Joseph Smith History 1:18-19) My object in going to inquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join. No sooner, therefore, did I get possession of myself, so as to be able to speak, than I asked the Personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects was right (for at this time it had never entered into my heart that all were wrong)—and which I should join.

19 I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt; that: “they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.”

Restoration

The Apostle Peter prophesied of the “restitution of all things” before Christ’s Second Coming.

(Acts 3: 19, 21)

19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.

Having been lost because of the Apostasy, Christ’s Church and His authority were to be restored to the earth. This Restoration would make available the opportunity for all to receive once again all of the blessings of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Joseph Smith’s First Vision marked the beginning of the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the earth. In subsequent years, Christ restored His priesthood and reorganized His Church. He has continued to reveal truths to His prophets and to restore the blessings that were taken from the earth for a time.

References: mormon.org | Articles of Faith | lds.org | scriptures.lds.org